Apparatus, method and article for a power storage device compartment

ABSTRACT

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To allow easy and convenient access to empty portable electrical energy storage device compartments within the vehicles, if the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as a key fob or other wireless device of a user, an empty portable electrical energy storage device compartment that is closed or locked, is unlocked, unlatched or opened automatically. Also, if the portable electrical energy storage device compartment is in another desired state to have the compartment unlocked, such as having a portable electrical energy storage device in the compartment that has a charge level below a particular threshold, the compartment will likewise be unlocked, unlatched or opened automatically.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the filingdate of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,900 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTINGPOWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011(Attorney Docket No. 170178.401P1), U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/647,936 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORCOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH ASBATTERIES” and filed May 16, 2012 (Attorney Docket No. 170178.401P2),U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/534,753 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR REDISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES,SUCH AS BATTERIES, BETWEEN COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTIONMACHINES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.402P1), U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/534,761 entitled “APPARATUS,METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWERSTORAGE DEVICES SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011 (AttorneyDocket No. 170178.403P1), U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/534,772 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION,SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BASEDON USER PROFILES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011 (Attorney Docket No.170178.404P1), U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,887entitled “THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF COMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEVEHICLES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.406P1), U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/647,941 entitled “THERMALMANAGEMENT OF COMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE VEHICLES” and filed May16, 2012 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.406P2), U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/511,880 entitled “DYNAMICALLY LIMITING VEHICLEOPERATION FOR BEST EFFORT ECONOMY” and filed Jul. 26, 2011 (Atty. DocketNo. 170178.407P1), U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/557,170 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD, AND ARTICLE FOR PHYSICALSECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES IN VEHICLES” and filed Nov. 8, 2011(Atty. Docket No. 170178.408P1), U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/581,566 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR A POWERSTORAGE DEVICE COMPARTMENT” and filed Dec. 29, 2011 (Atty. Docket No.170178.412P1), U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/601,404entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICDATA” and filed Feb. 21, 2012 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.417P1), U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/601,949 entitled “APPARATUS,METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING LOCATIONS OF POWER STORAGE DEVICECOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES” and filed Feb. 22, 2012(Atty. Docket No. 170178.418P1), and U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/601,953 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORPROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES ATA POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINE”and filed Feb. 22, 2012 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.419P1).

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to power storage devicecompartments, and particularly to power storage device compartments invehicles.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are a wide variety of uses or applications for portable electricalpower storage devices.

One such application is in the field of transportation. Hybrid andall-electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common. Such vehiclesmay achieve a number of advantages over traditional internal combustionengine vehicles. For example, hybrid or electrical vehicles may achievehigher fuel economy and may have little or even zero tail pipepollution. In particular, all-electric vehicles may not only have zerotail pipe pollution, but may be associated with lower overall pollution.For example, electrical power may be generated from renewable sources(e.g., solar, hydro). Also, for example, electrical power may begenerated at generation plants that produce no air pollution (e.g.,nuclear plants). Also, for example, electrical power may be generated atgeneration plants that burn relatively “clean burning” fuels (e.g.,natural gas), which have higher efficiency than internal combustionengines, and/or which employ pollution control or removal systems (e.g.,industrial air scrubbers) which are too large, costly or expensive foruse with individual vehicles.

Personal transportation vehicles such as combustion engine poweredscooters and/or motorbikes are ubiquitous in many places, for example,in the many large cities of Asia. Such scooters and/or motorbikes tendto be relatively inexpensive, particularly as compared to automobiles,cars or trucks. Cities with high numbers of combustion engine scootersand/or motorbikes also tend to be very densely populated and suffer fromhigh levels of air pollution. When new, many combustion engine scootersand/or motorbikes provide a relatively low polluting source of personaltransportation. For instance, such scooters and/or motorbikes may havehigher mileage ratings than larger vehicles. Some scooters and/ormotorbikes may even be equipped with basic pollution control equipment(e.g., catalytic converter). Unfortunately, factory specified levels ofemission are quickly exceeded if the scooters and/or motorbikes are usedand not maintained and/or if the scooters and/or motorbikes aremodified, for example, by intentional or unintentional removal ofcatalytic converters. Often owners or operators of scooters and/ormotorbikes lack the financial resources or the motivation to maintaintheir vehicles.

It is known that air pollution has a negative effect on human health,being associated with causing or exacerbating various diseases (e.g.,various reports tie air pollution to emphysema, asthma, pneumonia, andcystic fibrosis, as well as to various cardiovascular diseases). Suchdiseases take large numbers of lives and severely reduce the quality oflife of countless others.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A portable electrical energy storage device compartment system may besummarized as including at least one controller; and at least onecommunications module coupled to the at least one controller, whereinthe at least one controller is configured to: receive informationregarding authentication of an external device via the at least onecommunications module; and in response to receiving the informationregarding authentication: determine whether a compartment configured tohold a portable electrical energy storage device is in a desired stateto have the compartment unlocked; and if it is determined thecompartment is in the desired state to have the compartment unlocked,unlock a portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism of the compartment.

The desired state to have the compartment unlocked may be a state inwhich the portable electrical energy storage device is present in thecompartment and a charge level of the portable electrical energy storagedevice is below a particular threshold. The external device may be aportable electrical energy storage device collection and chargingmachine. The desired state to have the compartment unlocked may be astate in which the portable electrical energy storage device is notpresent in the compartment. The at least one communications module maybe configured to receive the information regarding authentication of theexternal device via a wireless signal and communicate the information tothe at least one controller to enable the at least one controller tounlock the portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism.

The portable electrical energy storage device compartment system mayfurther include the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism coupled to the at least one controller;and a detection device coupled to the at least one controller and thecompartment, the detection device configured to be activated by theportable electrical energy storage device being present in thecompartment, wherein the at least one controller may be configured tosend a control signal in a manner to unlock the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment locking mechanism in order to allowthe compartment to be opened, if the external device is authenticatedbased on the information regarding authentication.

The at least one controller may be further configured to make adetermination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment locking mechanism based on the received informationregarding authentication. The least one controller may be furtherconfigured to: generate a challenge key to send to the external device;send the challenge key to the external device; receive a response fromthe external device to the sending of the challenge key, the responseincluding a response code as part of the information regardingauthentication; generate an output from a secret algorithm using asecret key and the response code as input, the secret algorithm and thesecret key configured to be known only to the portable electrical energystorage device compartment system and one or more authorized externaldevices; and comparing the output from the secret algorithm to theresponse code, and wherein the at least one controller may be configuredto make the determination regarding unlocking the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment locking mechanism based at least onthe comparison. The configured portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system may be coupled to a vehicle. The external device maybe a key fob. The external device may be a wireless portable electronicdevice. The external device may be a device located at a vehicle servicecenter. The at least one controller may be configured to receive theinformation regarding authentication via a wireless signal transmittedfrom the external device, and the wireless signal transmitted from theexternal device may not be detectable outside a specified maximum rangefrom the at least one communications module. The wireless signal mayinclude a rolling code for the authentication of the external device bythe at least one controller.

The portable electrical energy storage device compartment system mayfurther include a power source coupled to the at least one controllerand the portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism to provide power to the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment locking mechanism.

A method of operating a portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system may be summarized as including receiving, by theportable electrical energy storage device compartment system,information regarding authentication of an external device; and making adetermination, by the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system, regarding unlocking a portable electrical energystorage device compartment locking mechanism, based on the informationregarding authentication and based on a detection of an absence of aportable electrical energy storage device in a compartment configured tohold the portable electrical energy storage device.

The method of operating a portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment may further include detecting the absence of the portableelectrical energy storage device in the compartment by determining thatthe portable electrical energy storage device is not present in thecompartment based on an absence of a signal from a detection devicecoupled to the compartment configured to be activated by the presence ofthe portable electrical energy storage device in the compartment.

The receiving the information regarding authentication may includereceiving the information regarding authentication via a wireless signaltransmitted from a portable wireless electronic device, and the wirelesssignal received from the portable wireless electronic device may not bedetectable outside a specified maximum range from a communicationsmodule of the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentsystem. The portable electrical energy storage device compartment systemmay be coupled to a vehicle to which the portable electrical energystorage device is configured to provide power when the portableelectrical energy storage device is present in the compartment. Themaking the determination may include comparing a code from the receivedinformation regarding authentication to one or more codes associatedwith the portable electrical energy storage device compartment systemand may further include unlocking the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment locking mechanism to allow the compartment to beopened if the code from the received information regardingauthentication matches one of the one or more codes associated with theportable electrical energy storage device compartment system and thereis an absence of the portable electrical energy storage device in thecompartment detected.

The method of operating a portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment may further include automatically lifting a lid of thecompartment if the code from the received information regardingauthentication matches the one of the one or more codes associated withthe portable electrical energy storage device compartment system andthere is an absence of the portable electrical energy storage device inthe compartment detected.

A portable electrical energy storage device compartment may besummarized as including a housing configured to hold a portableelectrical energy storage device; a power source; and a portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking system coupled tothe power source and the housing configured to allow the compartment tobe opened based on information regarding authentication of an externaldevice received wirelessly from the external device and based on adetection of at least one of: an absence of a portable electrical energystorage device in the housing and a charge level of the portableelectrical energy storage device in the housing.

The portable electrical energy storage device compartment locking systemmay include at least one controller; and at least one communicationsmodule coupled to the at least one controller, the at least onecontroller may be configured to: receive the information regardingauthentication of an external device via the at least one communicationsmodule; receive information regarding the detection of an absence of aportable electrical energy storage device in the housing; and make adetermination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment locking system to allow the compartment to be openedbased on the received information regarding authentication of anexternal device via the at least one communications module and based onthe received information regarding the detection of an absence of aportable electrical energy storage device in the housing.

The housing may be configured to hold the portable electrical energystorage device coupled to a vehicle to which the portable electricalenergy storage device is configured to provide power when the portableelectrical energy storage device is present in the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elementsor acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of variouselements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elementsare arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility.Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn are not intendedto convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particularelements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in thedrawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a collection, charging and distributionmachine along with a number of electrical power storage devicesaccording to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment, along with anelectric scooter or motorbike having an electrical power storage devicecompartment, and an electrical service provided via an electrical grid.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the collection, charging and distributionmachine of FIG. 1, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking system for the portable electrical energy storagedevice of the scooter or motorbike of FIG. 1 in wireless communicationin one instance with the collection, charging and distribution machineof FIG. 1 and in another instance with an external wireless device,according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the locking mechanism controller of FIG.3, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a locked, empty portableelectrical energy storage device compartment configured to hold theportable electrical energy storage device of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 coupledto the portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingsystem of FIG. 3, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the empty portableelectrical energy storage device compartment of FIG. 5 in an unlockedand open state, according to one non-limiting illustrated alternativeembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment of FIG. 5 in a locked state holdingthe portable electrical energy storage device of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3,according to one non-limiting illustrated alternative embodiment

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of operating thelocking mechanism controller of FIGS. 3-7, according to one non-limitingillustrated embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thelocking mechanism controller of FIGS. 3-7, according to one non-limitingillustrated embodiment, including communicating information to unlockthe portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism, useful in the method of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of operating theportable electrical energy storage device compartment system of FIGS.3-7, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosedembodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognizethat embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In otherinstances, well-known structures associated with vending apparatus,batteries, locking mechanisms, wireless technologies, supercapacitors orultracapacitors, power converters including but not limited totransformers, rectifiers, DC/DC power converters, switch mode powerconverters, controllers, and communications systems and structures andnetworks have not been shown or described in detail to avoidunnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification andclaims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as“comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusivesense that is as “including, but not limited to.”

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

The use of ordinals such as first, second and third does not necessarilyimply a ranked sense of order, but rather may only distinguish betweenmultiple instances of an act or structure.

Reference to portable electrical power storage devices means any devicecapable of storing electrical power and releasing stored electricalpower including but not limited to batteries, supercapacitors orultracapacitors. Reference to batteries means chemical storage cell orcells, for instance rechargeable or secondary battery cells includingbut not limited to nickel cadmium alloy or lithium ion battery cells.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are forconvenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of theembodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an environment 100 including a collection, charging anddistribution machine 102, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may take the formof a vending machine or kiosk. The collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 has a plurality of receivers, compartments or receptacles104 a, 104 b-104 n (only three called out in FIG. 1, collectively 104)to removably receive portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g.,batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors) 106 a-106 n (collectively106) for collection, charging and distribution. As illustrated in FIG.1, some of the receivers 104 are empty, while other receivers 104 holdportable electrical energy storage devices 106. While FIG. 1 shows asingle portable electrical energy storage device 106 per receiver 104,in some embodiments each receiver 104 may hold two or even more portableelectrical energy storage devices 106. For example, each of thereceivers 104 may be sufficiently deep to receive three portableelectrical energy storage devices 106. Thus, for example, thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102 illustrated in FIG. 1may have a capacity capable of simultaneously holding 40, 80 or 120portable electrical energy storage devices 106.

The portable electrical energy storage devices 106 may take a variety offorms, for example batteries (e.g., array of battery cells) orsupercapacitors or ultracapacitors (e.g., array of ultracapacitorcells). For example, the portable electrical energy storage device 106 zmay take the form of rechargeable batteries (i.e., secondary cells orbatteries). The portable electrical energy storage device 106 z may, forinstance, be sized to physically fit, and electrically power, personaltransportation vehicles, such as all-electric scooters or motorbikes108, and may also be sized to physically fit in a portable electricalenergy storage device compartment of the all-electric scooters ormotorbikes 108. As previously noted, combustion engine scooters andmotorbikes are common in many large cities, for example in Asia, Europeand the Middle East. The ability to conveniently access chargedbatteries throughout a city or region may facilitate the use ofall-electric scooters and motorbikes 108 in place of combustion enginescooters and motorbikes, thereby alleviating air pollution, as well asreducing noise.

The portable electrical energy storage devices 106 (only visible forportable electrical energy storage device 106 z) may include a number ofelectrical terminals 110 a, 110 b (two illustrated, collectively 110),accessible from an exterior of the portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z and also may be accessible when the portable electricalenergy storage device 106 z is in a portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment of the all-electric scooters or motorbikes 108. Theelectrical terminals 110 allow charge to be delivered from the portableelectrical energy storage device 106 z, as well as allow charge to bedelivered to the portable electrical energy storage device 106 z forcharging or recharging the same. While illustrated in FIG. 1 as posts,the electrical terminals 110 may take any other form which is accessiblefrom an exterior of the portable electrical energy storage device 106 zand a portable electrical energy storage device compartment, includingelectrical terminals positioned within slots in a battery housing and aportable electrical energy storage device compartment. As the portableelectrical energy storage devices 106 may be lent, leased, and/or rentedout to the public, it is desirable to control how and in whatcircumstances the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentfor the portable electrical energy storage devices 106 may be accessed.This control of the access to the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartments of the portable electrical energy storage devices106 helps to prevent theft and/or misuse of the portable electricalenergy storage devices 106 and also provides for convenient access tothe portable electrical energy storage device 106 z when replacing orputting a new portable electrical energy storage device 106 z in thescooter or motorbike 108. Systems and methods for the operation of aportable electrical energy storage device compartment, including systemsfor controlling when the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment is to be automatically unlocked or unlatched, are describedin more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3-9, and are useful in theoverall system for collection, charging and distribution of the portableelectrical energy storage devices 106 described herein.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 is positioned atsome location 112 at which the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 is conveniently and easily accessible by various end users.The location may take any of a large variety of forms, for example, aretail environment such as a convenience store, supermarket, gas orpetrol station, or service or service center. Alternatively, thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102 may stand alone at alocation 112 not associated with an existing retail or other business,for example in public parks or other public places. Thus, for example,collection, charging and distribution machines 102 may be located ateach store of a chain of convenience stores throughout a city or region.Such may advantageously rely on the fact that convenience stores areoften sited or distributed based on convenience to the target populationor demographic. Such may advantageously rely on pre-existing leases onstorefronts or other retail locations to allow an extensive network ofcollection, charging and distribution machines 102 to be quicklydeveloped in a city or region. Quickly achieving a large network thatprovides for convenient replacement and security of the of portableelectrical energy storage devices 106 used in the all-electric scootersor motorbikes 108 enhances the ability to depend on such a system andlikely commercial success of such an effort.

The location 112 may include an electrical service 114 to receiveelectrical power from a generating station (not shown) for example via agrid 116. The electrical service 114 may, for example, include one ormore of an electrical service meter 114 a, a circuit panel (e.g.,circuit breaker panel or fuse box) 114 b, wiring 114 c, and electricaloutlet 114 d. Where the location 112 is an existing retail orconvenience store, the electrical service 114 may be an existingelectrical service, so may be somewhat limited in rating (e.g., 120volts, 240 volts, 220 volts, 230 volts, 15 amps).

Optionally, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 mayinclude or be coupled to a source of renewable electrical power. Forexample, where installed in an outside location the collection, chargingand distribution machine 102 may include an array of photovoltaic (PV)cells 118 to produce electrical power from solar insolation.Alternatively, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 maybe electrically coupled to a microturbine (e.g., wind turbine) or PVarray positioned elsewhere at the location 112, for instance on a rooftop or mounted at a top of a pole (not shown).

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may becommunicatively coupled to one or more remotely located computersystems, such as back end or back office systems (only one shown) 120.The back end or back office systems 120 may collect data from and/orcontrol a plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines102 distributed about an area, such as a city. In some embodiments, theback end or back office systems 120 may collect data from and/or controla plurality of the portable electrical energy storage devices 106, suchas by generating, tracking, sending and/or receiving one or more codesincluded in a wireless signal 118 sent by the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 to an all-electric scooter or motorbike 108 orother vehicle. The sending and/or receiving one or more codes enablesaccess to the portable electrical energy storage device compartments ofthe portable electrical energy storage devices 106 for placing aportable electrical energy storage device 106 z in a respectiveall-electric scooter or motorbike 108 while the all-electric scooter ormotorbike 108 is in the vicinity of the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 or other authorized external device. Thecommunications between the back end or back office systems 120 and thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102 may occur over one ormore communications channels including one or more networks 122, ornon-networked communications channels. Communications may be over one ormore wired communications channels (e.g., twisted pair wiring, opticalfiber), wireless communications channels (e.g., radio, microwave,satellite, 801.11 compliant). Networked communications channels mayinclude one or more local area networks (LANs), wide area networks(WANs), extranets, intranets, or the Internet including the World WideWeb portion of the Internet.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may include a userinterface 124. The user interface may include a variety of input/output(I/O) devices to allow an end user to interact with the collection,charging and distribution machine 102. Various I/O devices are calledout and described in reference to FIG. 2, which follows.

FIG. 2 shows the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 ofFIG. 1, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 includes a controlsubsystem 202, a charging subsystem 204, a communications subsystem 206,and a user interface subsystem 208.

The control subsystem 202 includes a controller 210, for example amicroprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic controller (PLC),programmable gate array (PGA), application specific integrated circuit(ASIC) or another controller capable of receiving signals from varioussensors, performing logical operations, and sending signals to variouscomponents. Typically, the controller 210 may take the form of amicroprocessor (e.g., INTEL, AMD, ATOM). The control subsystem 202 mayalso include one or more non-transitory processor- or computer-readablestorage media, for example read-only memory (ROM) 212, random accessmemory (RAM) 214, and data store 216 (e.g., solid-state storage mediasuch as flash memory or EEPROM, or spinning storage media such as harddisk). The non-transitory processor- or computer-readable storage media212, 214, 216 may be in addition to any non-transitory storage medium(e.g., registers) which is part of the controller 210. The controlsubsystem 202 may include one or more buses 218 (only one illustrated)coupling various components together, for example one or more powerbuses, instruction buses, data buses, etc.

As illustrated, the ROM 212, or some other one of the non-transitoryprocessor- or computer-readable storage media 212, 214, 216, storesinstructions and/or data or values for variables or parameters. The setsof data may take a variety of forms, for example a lookup table, a setof records in a database, etc. The instructions and sets of data orvalues are executable by the controller 210. Execution of theinstructions and sets of data or values causes the controller 210 toperform specific acts to cause the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 to collect, charge, and distribute portable energy storagedevices, and to send one or more signals that enable access to theportable electrical energy storage device compartments of the scootersor motorbikes 108 while the scooters or motorbikes 108 are in thevicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine 102.Specific operation of the collection, charging and distribution machine102 is described herein and also below with reference to FIG. 3 andvarious flow diagrams (FIGS. 8-10) in the context of being an externaldevice which is authenticated in order to allow access to the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment (shown in FIGS. 5-7).

The controller 210 may use RAM 214 in a conventional fashion, forvolatile storage of instructions, data, etc. The controller 210 may usedata store 216 to log or retain information, for example one or morecodes that enable access to the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment while the scooter or motorbike 108 is in the vicinityof the collection, charging and distribution machine 102, and/orinformation related to operation of the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 itself. The instructions are executable by thecontroller 210 to control operation of the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 in response to end user or operator input, andusing data or values for the variables or parameters.

The control subsystem 202 receives signals from various sensors and/orother components of the collection, charging and distribution machine102 which include information that characterizes or is indicative ofoperation, status, or condition of such other components. Sensors arerepresented in FIG. 2 by the letter S appearing in a circle along withappropriate subscript letters.

For example, one or more position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may detect thepresence or absence of a portable electrical power storage device 106 ateach of the receivers 104. The position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may take avariety of forms. For example, the position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) maytake the form of mechanical switches that are closed, or alternativelyopened, in response to contact with a portion of a respective portableelectrical power storage device 106 when the portable electrical powerstorage device 106 is inserted into the receiver 104. Also for example,the position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may take the form of optical switches(i.e., optical source and receiver) that are closed, or alternativelyopened, in response to contact with a portion of a respective portableelectrical power storage device 106 when the portable electrical powerstorage device 106 is inserted into the receiver 104. Also for example,the position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may take the form of electricalsensors or switches that are closed, or alternatively opened, inresponse to detecting a closed circuit condition created by contact withthe terminals 110 of a respective portable electrical power storagedevice 106 when the portable electrical power storage device 106 isinserted into the receiver 104, or an open circuit condition thatresults from the lack of a respective portable electrical power storagedevice 106 in the receiver 104. These examples are intended to benon-limiting, and it is noted that any other structures and devices fordetecting the presence/absence or even the insertion of the portableelectrical power storage devices 106 into receivers may be employed.

For example, one or more charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may detect chargeof the portable electrical power storage devices 106 at each of thereceivers 104. Charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may detect the amount ofcharge stored by the portable electrical power storage devices 106.Charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may additionally detect an amount of chargeand/or rate of charging being supplied to ones of the portableelectrical power storage devices 106 at each of the receivers 104. Suchmay allow assessment of current (i.e., temporal) charge condition orstatus of each portable electrical power storage device 106, as well asallow feedback control over charging of same, including control overrate of charging. Charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may include any varietyof current and/or voltage sensors.

For example, one or more charge sensors S_(T1) (only one shown) maydetect or sense a temperature at the receivers 104 or in the ambientenvironment.

The control subsystem 202 provides signals to various actuators and/orother components responsive to control signals, which signals includeinformation that characterizes or is indicative of an operation thecomponent is to perform or a state or condition into which thecomponents should enter. Control signals, actuators or other componentsresponsive to control signals are represented in FIG. 2 by the letter Cappearing in a circle along with appropriate subscript letters.

For example, one or more engine control signals C_(A1)-C_(AN) may affectthe operation of one or more actuators 220 (only one illustrated). Forinstance, a control signal C_(A1) may cause movement of an actuator 220between a first and a second position or change a magnetic fieldproduced by the actuator 220. The actuator 220 may take any of a varietyof forms, including but not limited to a solenoid, an electric motorsuch as a stepper motor, or an electromagnet. The actuator 220 may becoupled to operate a latch, lock or other retainer mechanism 222. Thelatch, lock or other retainer mechanism 222 may selectively secure orretain one or more portable electrical power storage devices 106(FIG. 1) in the receiver 104 (FIG. 1). For instance, the latch, lock orother retainer mechanism 222 may physically couple to a complimentarystructure that is part of a housing of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, the latch, lock or otherretainer mechanism 222 may magnetically couple to a complimentarystructure that is part of a housing of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 (FIG. 1). Also for instance, the latch, lock orother retainer mechanism 222 may open a receiver 104 (FIG. 1), or mayallow a receiver 104 to be opened, to receive a partially or fullydischarged portable electrical power storage device 106 for charging.For example, the actuator may open and/or close a door to the receiver104 (FIG. 1), to selectively provide access to a portable electricalpower storage device 106 (FIG. 1) received therein. Also for example,the actuator may open and/or close a latch or lock, allowing an end userto open and/or close a door to the receiver 104 (FIG. 1), to selectivelyprovide access to a portable electrical power storage device 106(FIG. 1) received therein.

The control subsystem 202 may include one or more ports 224 a to providecontrol signals to one or more ports 224 b of the charging subsystem204. The ports 224 a, 224 b may provide bi-directional communications.The control subsystem 202 may include one or more ports 226 a to providecontrol signals to one or more ports 226 b of the user interfacesubsystem 208. The ports 226 a, 226 b may provide bi-directionalcommunications.

The charging subsystem 204 includes various electrical and electroniccomponents to charge portable electrical power storage devices 106 whenpositioned or received in the receivers 104. For example, the chargingsubsystem 204 may include one or more power buses or power bus bars,relays, contactors or other switches (e.g., insulated gate bipolartransistors or IGBTs, metal oxide semiconductor transistors or MOSFETs),rectifier bridge(s), current sensors, ground fault circuitry, etc. Theelectrical power is supplied via contacts that can take any of a varietyof forms, for instance terminals, leads, posts, etc. The contacts allowelectrical coupling of various components. Some possible implementationsare illustrated in FIG. 2. Such is not intended to be exhaustive.Additional components may be employed while other components may beomitted.

The illustrated charging subsystem 204 includes a first power converter230 that receives electrical power from the electrical service 114(FIG. 1) via a line or cord 232. The power will typically be in the formof single two- or three-phase AC electrical power. As such, the firstpower converter 230 may need to convert and otherwise condition theelectrical power received via the electrical services 114 (FIG. 1), forexample for rectifying an AC waveform to DC, transforming voltage,current, and phase, as well as reducing transients and noise. Thus, thefirst power converter 230 may include a transformer 234, rectifier 236,DC/DC power converter 238, and filter(s) 240.

The transformer 234 may take the form of any variety of commerciallyavailable transformers with suitable ratings for handling the powerreceived via the electrical service 114 (FIG. 1). Some embodiments mayemploy multiple transformers. The transformer 234 may advantageouslyprovide galvanic isolation between the components of the collection,charging and distribution machine 102 and the grid 116 (FIG. 1). Therectifier 236 may take any of variety of forms, for example a fullbridge diode rectifier or a switch mode rectifier. The rectifier 236 maybe operated to transform AC electrical power to DC electrical power. TheDC/DC power converter 238 may take any of a large variety of forms. Forexample, DC/DC power converter 238 may take the form a switch mode DC/DCpower converter, for instance employing IGBTs or MOSFETs in a half orfull bridge configuration, and may include one or more inductors. TheDC/DC power converter 238 may have any number of topologies including aboost converter, buck converter, synchronous buck converter, buck-boostconverter or fly-back converter. The filter(s) 240 may include one ormore capacitors, resistors, Zener diodes or other elements to suppressvoltage spikes, or to remove or reduce transients and/or noise.

The illustrated charging subsystem 204 may also receive electrical powerfrom a renewable power source, for example the PV array 118 (FIG. 1).Such may be converted or conditioned by the first power converter 230,for example being supplied directly to the DC/DC power converter 238,bypassing the transformer 236 and/or rectifier 236. Alternatively, theillustrated charging subsystem 204 may include a dedicated powerconverter to convert or otherwise condition such electrical power.

The illustrated charging subsystem 204 may optionally include secondpower converter 242 that receives electrical power from one or moreportable electrical power storage devices 106 (FIG. 1) via one or morelines 244, for charging other ones of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106. As such, the second power converter 242 may need toconvert and/or otherwise condition the electrical power received fromportable electrical power storage devices 106, for example optionallytransforming voltage or current, as well as reducing transients andnoise. Thus, the second power converter 242 may optionally include aDC/DC power converter 246 and/or filter(s) 248. Various types of DC/DCpower converters and filters are discussed above.

The illustrated charging subsystem 204 includes a plurality of switches250 responsive to the control signals delivered via ports 224 a, 224 bfrom the control subsystem 202. The switches may be operable toselectively couple a first number or set of portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 to be charged from electrical power supplied by boththe electrical service via the first power converter 230 and fromelectrical power supplied by a second number or set of portableelectrical power storage devices 106. The first number or set ofportable electrical power storage devices 106 may include a singleportable electrical power storage device 106, two, or even more portableelectrical power storage devices 106. The second number or set ofportable electrical power storage devices 106 may include a singleportable electrical power storage device 106, two, or even more portableelectrical power storage devices 106. The portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 are represented in FIG. 2 as loads L₁, L₂-L_(N).

The communications subsystem 206 may additionally include one or morecommunications modules or components which facilitate communicationswith the various components of a back end or back office system 120(FIG. 1), various components of the all-electric scooter or motorbike108, various components of the portable electrical power storage devices106, and/or various components of a portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment of the all-electric scooter or motorbike 108. Thecommunications subsystem 206 may, for example, include one or moremodems 252 and/or one or more Ethernet cards or other types ofcommunications cards or components 254. A port 256 a of the controlsubsystem 202 may communicatively couple the control subsystem 202 witha port 256 b of the communications subsystem 206. The communicationssubsystem 206 may provide wired and/or wireless communications. Forexample, the communications subsystem 206 may provide componentsenabling short range (e.g., via Bluetooth, near field communication(NFC), radio frequency identification (RFID) components and protocols)or longer range wireless communications (e.g., over a wireless LAN,satellite, or cellular network) with various other devices external tothe collection, charging and distribution machine 102, including variouscomponents of the all-electric scooter or motorbike 108, variouscomponents of the portable electrical power storage devices 106, and/orvarious components of a portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment of the all-electric scooter or motorbike 108. Thecommunications subsystem 206 may include one or more ports, wirelessreceivers, wireless transmitters or wireless transceivers to providewireless signal paths to the various remote components or systems. Thecommunications subsystem 206 may include one or more bridges or routerssuitable to handle network traffic including switched packet typecommunications protocols (TCP/IP), Ethernet or other networkingprotocols.

The user interface subsystem 208 includes one or more user input/output(I/O) components. For example, user interface subsystem 208 may includea touch screen display 208 a operable to present information to an enduser, and a graphical user interface (GUI) to receive indications ofuser selections. The user interface subsystem 208 may include a keyboardor keypad 208 b, and/or a cursor controller (e.g., mouse, trackball,trackpad) (not illustrated) to allow an end user to enter informationand/or select user selectable icons in a GUI. The user interfacesubsystem 208 may include a speaker 208 c to provide aural messages toan end user and/or a microphone 208 d to receive spoken user input suchas spoken commands.

The user interface subsystem 208 may include a card reader 208 e to readinformation from card type media 209. The card reader 208 e may take avariety of forms. For instance, the card reader 208 e may take the formof, or include, a magnetic stripe reader for reading information encodedin a magnetic stripe carried by a card 209. For instance, the cardreader 208 e may take the form of, or include, a machine-readable symbol(e.g., barcode, matrix code) card reader for reading information encodedin a machine-readable symbol carried by a card 209. For instance, thecard reader 208 e may take the form of, or include, a smart card readerfor reading information encoded in a non-transitory medium carried by acard 209. Such may, for instance, include media employing radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponders or electronic payment chips(e.g., near field communications (NFC) chips, such as used by electronicwallet (e-wallet) applications, etc.). Thus, the card reader 208 e maybe able to read information from a variety of card media 209, forinstance credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, and prepaid cards, aswell as identification media such as drivers licenses. The card reader208 e may also be able to read information encoded in a non-transitorymedium carried by the portable electrical energy storage devices 106,and may also include RFID transponders, transceivers, NFC chips and/orother communications devices to communicate information to variouscomponents of the all-electric scooter or motorbike 108, variouscomponents of the portable electrical power storage devices 106, and/orvarious components of a portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment of the all-electric scooter or motorbike 108 (e.g., forauthentication of the collection, charging and distribution machine 102to the portable electrical energy storage device compartment of theall-electric scooter or motorbike 108, or for authentication of the ofthe all-electric scooter or motorbike 108 to the collection, chargingand distribution machine 102).

The user interface subsystem 208 may include a bill acceptor 208 f and avalidator and/or coin acceptor 208 g to accept and validate cashpayments. Such may be highly useful in servicing populations lackingaccess to credit. Bill acceptor and validator 208 f and/or coin acceptor208 g may take any variety of forms, for example those that arecurrently commercially available and used in various vending machinesand kiosks.

FIG. 3 shows a portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking system 300 for the portable electrical energy storage device ofthe scooter or motorbike 108 of FIG. 1 in wireless communication in oneinstance with the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 ofFIG. 1 and in another instance with an external wireless device 308,according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

Shown is a portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism 320 operably coupled to a locking mechanism controller 306. Insome embodiments, the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism 320 and the locking mechanism controller306 are part of a portable electrical energy storage device compartment(shown in FIGS. 5-7) of the scooter or motorbike 108.

Also shown is the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 inwireless communication with the locking mechanism controller 306. Forexample, the communications subsystem 206 (shown in FIG. 2) of thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102 may provide componentsenabling short range (e.g., via Bluetooth, near field communication(NFC), radio frequency identification (RFID) components and protocols)or longer range wireless communications (e.g., over a wireless LAN,satellite, or cellular network) with various other devices external tothe collection, charging and distribution machine 102, including thelocking mechanism controller 306. The communications subsystem 206 ofthe collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may include one ormore ports, wireless receivers, wireless transmitters or wirelesstransceivers to provide wireless signal paths to the locking mechanismcontroller 306. The communications subsystem 206 of the collection,charging and distribution machine 102 may also or instead include one ormore bridges or routers suitable to handle network traffic includingswitched packet type communications protocols (TCP/IP), Ethernet orother networking protocols.

The portable electrical energy storage device 106 z may be lent, leased,and/or rented out to the public. As the portable electrical energystorage devices 106 may be lent, leased, and/or rented out to thepublic, it is desirable to control how and in what circumstances theportable electrical energy storage device compartment for the portableelectrical energy storage devices 106 may be accessed. This control ofthe access to the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentof the portable electrical energy storage device 106 z helps to preventtheft and/or misuse of the portable electrical energy storage device 106z and also provides for convenient access to the portable electricalenergy storage device 106 z when replacing or putting a new portableelectrical energy storage device 106 z in the scooter or motorbike 108(such as when replacing the portable electrical energy storage device106 z with a new portable electrical energy storage device 106 z at thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102. For example, theportable electrical energy storage device compartment may be empty andlocked or otherwise secured until the locking mechanism controller 306detects a wireless signal including authentication information from anexternal wireless device 308 or the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 with one or more wireless communicationssubsystems such as that described above with respect to the collection,charging and distribution machine 102. Such external wireless devicesincluding one or more wireless communications subsystems such as thatdescribed above with respect to the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 may include, but are not limited to: card keys,access cards, credit cards, access control key fobs, mobile computingdevices, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones, battery chargers, other access control devices, etc.

For example, the wireless device 308 may periodically, constantly oraperiodically emit a wireless signal 118 for a locking mechanismcontroller 306 that is listening for such a signal to receive andauthenticate the wireless device 308 in order to trigger the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism 320 toautomatically unlock or unlatch, conveniently enabling a new portableelectrical energy storage device 106 z to be operably placed in theportable electrical energy storage device compartment (shown in FIGS.5-7) of the scooter or bike 108. Also or instead, the locking mechanismcontroller 306 may periodically or constantly emit a wireless signal 118to the wireless device 308. The wireless device 308 listening for such asignal will respond with a wireless signal for the locking mechanismcontroller 306 to receive and authenticate the wireless device 308 inorder to trigger the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism 320 to unlock or unlatch, convenientlyenabling a new portable electrical energy storage device 106 z to beoperably placed in the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment (shown in FIGS. 5-7) of the scooter or bike 108.

In some embodiments, the wireless signal received from the wirelessdevice 308 may include a code that may be authenticated by the lockingmechanism controller 306 in order to ensure the signal is being receivedfrom an authorized device. For example, the code may be time-sensitivecode such as a “hopping” code or a “rolling” code to provide suchsecurity. In the case of a 40-bit rolling code, forty bits provide 240(about 1 trillion) possible codes. However, codes of other bit lengthsmay be used instead. A wireless device 308 memory (e.g., ROM) may holdthe current 40-bit code. The wireless device 308 then sends that 40-bitcode to the locking mechanism controller 306 over the wireless signal118 to unlock or unlatch the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism 320. The locking mechanism controller 306also holds the current 40-bit code. If the locking mechanism controller306 receives the 40-bit code it expects and the locking mechanismcontroller 306 detects the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment is in a desired state to have the compartment unlocked, thenit unlocks the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking mechanism 320. For example, if the locking mechanism controller306 detects the portable electrical energy storage device compartment isempty then the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking mechanism controller 306 unlocks the portable electrical energystorage device compartment locking mechanism 320.

Also, in some embodiments, if the locking mechanism controller 306detects the portable electrical energy storage device compartment is notempty, but detects a charge level of the portable electrical energystorage device in the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment is below a particular threshold level (e.g., in instanceswhere the portable electrical energy storage device likely needs to berecharged) then the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism controller 306 unlocks the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism 320. Thisdetection may be accomplished via a control line (e.g., control line310) that is operably connected to the portable electrical energystorage device and/or the portable electrical energy storage devicedetection device 528 that is configured to also detect a charge level ofthe portable electrical energy storage device in the compartment. Insome embodiments, if the locking mechanism controller 306 receives the40-bit code (or other authentication information) it expects inparticular from the collection, charging and distribution machine 102instead of another external device, and the portable electrical energystorage device charge level is below the particular threshold, then theportable electrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanismcontroller 306 unlocks the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism 320 to enable the portable electricalenergy storage device to be easily removed at the collection, chargingand distribution machine 102.

If the locking mechanism controller 306 does not receive the 40-bit codeit expects or if the locking mechanism controller 306 detects theportable electrical energy storage device compartment is not in adesired state to have the compartment unlocked, the locking mechanismcontroller 306 does nothing. In some embodiments, the locking mechanismcontroller 306 will lock the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism 320 if the portable electrical energystorage device compartment locking mechanism 320 is in an unlocked stateand the locking mechanism controller 306 does not receive the 40-bitcode it expects, or is not able to receive any signal over a determinedperiod of time.

Both the wireless device 308 and the locking mechanism controller 306use the same pseudo-random number generator (e.g., implemented by therespective processors of the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 and the locking mechanism controller 306) to generate the40-bit code. The wireless device 308 may have different pseudo-randomnumber generators to match the pseudo-random number generator of eachlocking mechanism controller 306 of each portable electrical energystorage device compartment of each scooter or motorbike 108. When thelocking mechanism controller 306 receives a valid code from the wirelessdevice 308, it uses the same pseudo-random number generator to generatethe next code relative to the valid code received and communicateswirelessly with the wireless device 308 to instruct it to also generatethe next code using the same pseudo-random number generator, which thewireless device 308 stores for the next use. In this way, the wirelessdevice 308 and the locking mechanism controller 306 are synchronized.The locking mechanism controller 306 only unlocks or unlatches theportable electrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism320 if it receives the code it expects.

Also, the current 40-bit code or other time-sensitive rolling code maybe generated and communicated to one or more collection, charging anddistribution machines within a network of collection, charging anddistribution machines (e.g., via the network 122 shown in FIG. 1) sothat any collection, charging and distribution machine 102 maycommunicate the correct current code to the locking mechanism controller306 when the scooter or motorbike having the locking mechanismcontroller 306 comes within wireless signal range of any authorizedcollection, charging and distribution machine.

In some embodiments, the wireless device 308 may accept any of the next256 possible valid codes in the pseudo-random number sequence. This way,if the locking mechanism controller 306 and the wireless device 308 forsome reason become unsynchronized by 256 rolling codes or less, thelocking mechanism controller 306 would still accept the transmissionfrom the wireless device 308, detect that the portable electrical energystorage device compartment is empty, unlock the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment locking mechanism 320, and generatethe next code relative to the valid code received.

In other embodiments, the hopping, rolling or time-sensitive code may bea universal code communicated by the back end or back office system 120to the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 andcommunicated wirelessly to the locking mechanism controller 306. Forexample, this may occur over a WAN, LAN and/or when the lockingmechanism controller 306 comes within wireless communications range ofthe collection, charging and distribution machine 102 such as when thescooter or motorbike 108 visits the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102.

In some embodiments, the locking mechanism controller 306 and thewireless device 308 store a common secret key or code and use a commonsecret algorithm for authentication of the wireless device 308. Thecommon secret algorithm, for example, can be a hash function or otheralgorithm which takes the secret key and at least one other key or codeas input and generates different output based on the secret key anddifferent input. The common secret algorithm may be executed byrespective processors of the locking mechanism controller 306 and thewireless device 308 using stored instructions on respective computerreadable media of the locking mechanism controller 306 and the wirelessdevice 308 or on respective configured hardware or firmware componentsof the of locking mechanism controller 306 and wireless device 308. Thecommon secret algorithm and common secret key or code may be initiallyencoded, programmed or installed in the locking mechanism controller 306and wireless device 308 in a secure fashion such that they areirretrievable or otherwise protected from being discovered. The commonsecret algorithm and common secret key or code are not communicatedbetween the locking mechanism controller 306 and wireless device 308during the authentication process.

In response to receiving an authentication beacon or request from thewireless device 308 via the wireless signal 118 (which may have beensent in response to a wireless signal or beacon received from thelocking mechanism controller 306), the locking mechanism controller 306generates a challenge key and sends this challenge key to the wirelessdevice 308. In response to receiving the challenge key, the wirelessdevice 308 uses the secret algorithm and the common secret key togenerate a response value and sends this response value to the lockingmechanism controller 306. The locking mechanism controller 306 thenverifies the response value by using the generated challenge key andsecret key as input to the secret algorithm to generate an output valuefrom the secret algorithm. The locking mechanism controller 306 thencompares this output value from the secret algorithm to the responsevalue received from the wireless device 308. If the output from thesecret algorithm generated by the locking mechanism controller 306 andthe response value received from the wireless device 308 match, then thewireless device 308 is authenticated and the locking mechanismcontroller 306 may then take actions accordingly, such as sending acontrol signal to the locking mechanism 320 to unlock. If the outputfrom the secret algorithm generated by the locking mechanism controller306 and the response value received from the wireless device 308 do notmatch, then the wireless device 308 is not authenticated and the lockingmechanism controller 306 may then take no action, or take other actionsaccordingly, such as sending a control signal to the locking mechanism320 to lock if not already locked.

In some embodiments, once the locking mechanism controller 306 can nolonger receive the wireless signal 118 from the wireless device 308and/or the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 (e.g.,after the scooter or motorbike is no longer within range of thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102 wireless signal 118,or when the driver having the wireless device is no longer within rangeof the scooter or bike 108), the locking mechanism controller 306 willsend a signal to cause the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism 320 to lock to prevent the portableelectrical energy storage device 106 z from being able to be removedfrom being operably connected to the scooter or motorbike 108. Also, asdescribed above, if the signal received from the wireless device 308,the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 or other devicecontains an invalid code, if not already locked, the locking mechanismcontroller 306 will send a signal to cause the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment locking mechanism 320 to lock toprevent the portable electrical energy storage device 106 z, if presentin the portable electrical energy storage device compartment, from beingable to be removed from being operably connected to the scooter ormotorbike, and if portable electrical energy storage device compartmentis empty, prevent an unauthorized portable electrical energy storagedevice from being placed in the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment. In some instances, the locking mechanism controller306 must detect the presence of the portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z in the scooter or motorbike 108 before sending a signal tocause the portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism 320 to lock or latch.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the locking mechanism controller of FIG.3, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

The locking mechanism controller 306 includes a controller 410, acommunications subsystem 406, and a power interface 420.

The controller 410, for example, is a microprocessor, microcontroller,programmable logic controller (PLC), programmable gate array (PGA),application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or another controllercapable of receiving signals from various sensors, performing logicaloperations, and sending signals to various components. Typically, thecontroller 410 may take the form of a microprocessor (e.g., INTEL, AMD,ATOM). The locking mechanism controller 306 may also include one or morenon-transitory processor- or computer-readable storage media, forexample read-only memory (ROM) 412, random access memory (RAM) 414, andother storage 416 (e.g., solid-state storage media such as flash memoryor EEPROM, or spinning storage media such as hard disk). Thenon-transitory processor- or computer-readable storage media 412, 414,416 may be in addition to any non-transitory storage medium (e.g.,registers) which is part of the controller 410. The locking mechanismcontroller 306 may include one or more buses 418 (only one illustrated)coupling various components together, for example one or more powerbuses, instruction buses, data buses, etc.

As illustrated, the ROM 412, or some other one of the non-transitoryprocessor- or computer-readable storage media 412, 414, 416, storesinstructions and/or data or values for variables or parameters. The setsof data may take a variety of forms, for example a lookup table, a setof records in a database, etc. The instructions and sets of data orvalues are executable by the controller 410. Execution of theinstructions and sets of data or values causes the controller 410 toperform specific acts to compare a code received from an external deviceand cause the locking mechanism controller 306 to generate controlsignals to lock or unlock the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism 320 based on the comparison. Also, suchacts may include, for example, operations implementing a pseudo-randomnumber to generate a rolling code as described above. Specific operationof the locking mechanism controller 306 is described herein and alsobelow with reference to various flow diagrams (FIGS. 8-10).

The controller 410 may use RAM 414 in a conventional fashion, forvolatile storage of instructions, data, etc. The controller 410 may usedata store 416 to log or retain information, for example, informationregarding user profile information, vehicle profile information,security codes, credentials, security certificates, passwords, vehicleinformation, etc. The instructions are executable by the controller 410to control operation of the locking mechanism controller 306 in responseto input from remote systems such as those of external devices includingbut not limited to: charging devices, vehicles, key fobs, useridentification devices (cards, electronic keys, etc.) vehicles,collection, charging and distribution machines, collection, charging anddistribution machine service systems, service centers, user mobiledevices, user vehicles, and end user or operator input.

The controller 410 may also receive signals from various sensors and/orcomponents of an external device via the communications subsystem 406 ofthe locking mechanism controller 306. This information may includeinformation that characterizes or is indicative of the authenticity,authorization level, operation, status, or condition of such componentsand/or external devices.

The communications subsystem 406 may include one or more communicationsmodules or components which facilitate communications with the variouscomponents of the wireless device 308, collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 of FIG. 1 (e.g., such as to receive a securitycode) and/or of other external devices, such that data may be exchangedbetween the locking mechanism controller 306 and the external devicesfor authentication purposes. The communications subsystem 406 mayprovide wired and/or wireless communications. The communicationssubsystem 406 may include one or more ports, wireless receivers,wireless transmitters or wireless transceivers to provide wirelesssignal paths to the various remote components or systems. Thecommunications subsystem 406 may, for example, include componentsenabling short range (e.g., via Bluetooth, near field communication(NFC), radio frequency identification (RFID) components and protocols)or longer range wireless communications (e.g., over a wireless LAN,satellite, or cellular network) and may include one or more modems orone or more Ethernet or other types of communications cards orcomponents for doing so. The remote communications subsystem 406 mayinclude one or more bridges or routers suitable to handle networktraffic including switched packet type communications protocols(TCP/IP), Ethernet or other networking protocols.

In some embodiments, some or all of the components of the lockingmechanism controller 306 actuate one or more actuators 502 (shown inFIG. 6 and FIG. 7) of the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism 320 (e.g., by a wireless control signal)sent via the communications subsystem 406.

The power interface 420 is configured to receive power from a powersource 516 (shown in FIGS. 5-7) via connection 314 to provide power tothe locking mechanism controller 306. The power interface 420 includesvarious components operable for performing the above functions such aselectrical transformers, converters, rectifiers, etc.

FIG. 5 shows cross-sectional elevation view of a locked, empty portableelectrical energy storage device compartment 500 configured to hold theportable electrical energy storage device 106 z of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3coupled to the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking system 300 of FIG. 3, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment.

Shown is a portable electrical energy storage device compartment housing512, a part of a vehicle 508, a portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment locking mechanism 320, a locking mechanism controller306 and a power source 516. In one embodiment, the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment locking mechanism 320 is locatedoutside the portable electrical energy storage device compartmenthousing 512 and fixed to a part of the vehicle 508 (as shown in theexample of FIG. 5). In other embodiments, the portable electrical energystorage device locking mechanism 320 is located inside or otherwisefixed to the portable electrical energy storage device compartmenthousing 512 and/or vehicle. In each embodiment, however, the portableelectrical energy storage device locking mechanism 320 is configured tolock, latch, unlock and/or unlatch, or otherwise secure or provideaccess to the portable electrical energy storage device compartment 500.

For example, the portable electrical energy storage device compartment500 has a top opening through which the portable electrical energystorage device 106 z may be placed into the portable electrical energystorage device compartment 500 and removed from the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment 500. Once the portable electricalenergy storage device 106 z is placed in the portable electrical energystorage device compartment 500, the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment housing 512 surrounds the portable electrical energystorage device 106 z except at the top opening. As shown in FIG. 5, theportable electrical energy storage device compartment 500 has a lid 520covering the top opening of the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment 500. The lid 420 is hingedly attached to the top of aside wall 522 of the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment 500 at a hinge 524 such that when the lid 520 is opened, aportable electrical energy storage device 106 z may be placed in theportable electrical energy storage device compartment 500 or removedfrom the portable electrical energy storage device compartment 500.

The portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism 320 has a slidable bolt 506 which partially covers an end ofthe lid 520 opposite the hinge 524 when the lid 520 is in a closedposition as shown in FIG. 5. This puts the portable electrical energystorage device compartment 500 in a locked or latched state by blockingthe lid 520 from moving upward on the hinge 524 to an open position. Theslidable bolt 506 is slidable on a bolt track or through bolt housing504 fixedly attached to the vehicle part 508. However, in otherembodiments, the bolt housing 504 may be fixedly attached to thecompartment housing 512. When the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment locking mechanism 320 is in an unlocked state, theslidable bolt 506 is retracted into the bolt housing 504 to not coverany portion of the lid 520 and thus allow the lid 520 to be opened (asshown in FIG. 6).

The portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism 320 is coupled to the locking mechanism controller 306 via acontrol line 308 and coupled to the power source via power line 526. Forexample, one or more control signals received from the locking mechanismcontroller 306 via control line 308 may affect the operation of one ormore actuators 502 (only one illustrated) to cause the slidable bolt 506to move. For instance, a control signal may cause movement of anactuator 502 between a first and a second position or change a magneticfield produced by the actuator 502. The actuator 502 may take any of avariety of forms, including but not limited to a solenoid, an electricmotor such as a stepper motor, or an electromagnet. The actuator 502 mayalternatively be coupled to operate a different latch, lock or othertype of retainer mechanism for reversibly locking the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment lid 520.

The actuator 502 may be coupled to operate a latch, lock or otherretainer mechanism (not shown) in addition to or instead of the bolt506. The latch, lock or other retainer mechanism may selectively secureor retain the lid 520 to prevent access to the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment 500. For instance, the latch, lock orother retainer mechanism may physically couple to a complimentarystructure that is part of the housing 512 or the lid 520 of the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment 500. Also for example, theactuator 502 may open and/or close a different latch or lock, allowingan end user to open the lid 520 or allowing the lid 520 to openautomatically via a spring or other device.

The compartment housing 512 may provide protection to prevent or detertampering with the electrical energy storage device, and may be formedof suitably strong and resilient materials (e.g., ABS plastic). Such maynot only prevent or deter tampering, but may leave a visible indicationof any tampering attempts. For example, the housing 512 may include astrong outer layer of a first color (e.g., black) and a layer of asecond color (e.g., fluorescent orange) therebeneath. Such will renderattempts to cut through the housing 512 visibly apparent.

The locking mechanism controller 306 is coupled to a switch or otherportable electrical energy storage device detection device 528 viacontrol line(s) 310. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 5, theportable electrical energy storage device detection device 528 is abutton 530 supported by a spring 532 situated within the interior bottomof the housing 512. The button 530 supported by the spring 532 isconfigured to, when pressed down, cause a closed circuit or open circuitcondition to occur involving the control line(s) 310. The lockingmechanism controller 306 detects such a condition on control line(s) 310such that the locking mechanism controller 306 may control operation ofthe portable electrical energy storage device locking mechanism 320accordingly. For example, when a portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z is placed in the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment 500, the button 530 and supporting spring 532 are configuredsuch that the weight of the portable electrical energy storage device106 z causes the button 530 to be pressed down and cause a closedcircuit or open circuit condition to occur, e.g., via a conductivematerial (not shown) on the bottom of the button 530 coming intoelectrical contact with the control line(s) 310. An example of thisstate is shown in FIG. 7.

When the portable electrical energy storage device 106 z is removed fromthe portable electrical energy storage device compartment 500, thebutton 530 and supporting spring 532 are configured such that thesupporting spring 532 pushes the button 530 back into a position abovethe interior bottom planar surface of the compartment housing 512, thuscausing a closed circuit or open circuit condition to occur opposite ofthat when the button 530 is in the pressed down state. In this manner,the locking mechanism controller 306 may detect when the portableelectrical energy storage device 106 z is present in the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment 500. However, othermechanical, electric and/or electronic detection devices may be usedthat provide the locking mechanism controller 306 with an indication ofwhether the portable electrical energy storage device 106 z is presentin the portable electrical energy storage device compartment 500.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional elevation view of the empty portableelectrical energy storage device compartment of FIG. 5 in an unlockedand open state, according to one non-limiting illustrated alternativeembodiment.

For example, if the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment 500 were in the state shown in FIG. 5 (i.e., in a lockedstate without a portable electrical energy storage device detected bythe detection mechanism 528 as being present in the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment 500), once the locking mechanismcontroller 306 receives information regarding authentication of awireless external device (e.g., a driver's key fob or other wirelessdevice), the locking mechanism controller 306 will cause the portableelectrical energy storage device locking mechanism 320 to automaticallyunlock or unlatch the lid 520 to allow the lid 520 to be opened as shownin FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional elevation view of the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment 500 of FIG. 5 in a locked stateholding the portable electrical energy storage device 106 z of FIG. 1and FIG. 3, according to one non-limiting illustrated alternativeembodiment.

For example, in FIG. 7, the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment 500 is in a locked state, but the portable electrical energystorage device 106 z is present in the portable electrical energystorage device compartment 500. The locking mechanism controller 306detects the presence of the portable electrical energy storage device106 z by the button 530 being in a pressed down state. The button 530 isconfigured such that the weight of the portable electrical energystorage device 106 z causes the button 530 to be pressed down and causea closed circuit or open circuit condition to occur, e.g., via aconductive material (not shown) on the bottom of the button 530 cominginto electrical contact with the control line(s) 310. This closedcircuit or open circuit condition is opposite of the closed circuit oropen circuit condition that occurs when the button 530 is not presseddown (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). When the portable electrical energystorage device compartment is in the state 500 shown in FIG. 7 (i.e., ina locked state with the portable electrical energy storage device 106 zpresent in the portable electrical energy storage device compartment500), even if the locking mechanism controller 306 receives informationregarding authentication of a wireless external device (e.g., a driver'skey fob or other wireless device), the locking mechanism controller 306will not cause the portable electrical energy storage device lockingmechanism 320 to automatically unlock or unlatch the lid 520 to allowthe lid 520 to be opened as shown in FIG. 6 without furtherauthentication or use of a key, etc. This is because if there is aportable electrical energy storage device 106 z in the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment 500 and a user comes withinthe vicinity of the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment 500 with their authorized wireless device, it is less likelythat the user needs to access the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment 500 than if the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment 500 were empty.

However, in some embodiments, alternatively or additionally, if thelocking mechanism controller 306 detects the portable electrical energystorage device compartment is not empty, but detects a charge level ofthe portable electrical energy storage device in the portable electricalenergy storage device compartment is below a particular threshold level(e.g., in instances where the portable electrical energy storage devicelikely needs to be recharged) then the portable electrical energystorage device compartment locking mechanism controller 306 unlocks theportable electrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism320. This detection may be accomplished via a control line (e.g.,control line 310) that is operably connected to the portable electricalenergy storage device and/or the portable electrical energy storagedevice detection device 528 that may be configured to also detect acharge level of the portable electrical energy storage device in thecompartment 500.

In some embodiments, when the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment is in the state 500 shown in FIG. 7 (i.e., a locked statewith the portable electrical energy storage device 106 z present in theportable electrical energy storage device compartment 500), the lockingmechanism controller 306 may be in a state in which it is not listeningfor such a signal including information regarding authentication of awireless external device. However, if the portable electrical energystorage device compartment 500 changes to the state shown in FIG. 5(i.e., a locked state without a portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z detected by the detection mechanism 528 as being present inthe portable electrical energy storage device compartment 500), thelocking mechanism controller 306 may switch to be in a state in which itis listening for such a signal including information regardingauthentication of a wireless external device.

Also note that the lid 520 may have openings or holes to allow theterminals 110 a and 110 b of the portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z to be accessed when the portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z is present and locked in the portable electrical energystorage device compartment 500, such that the terminals 110 a and 110 bmay be operably connected to a vehicle such as the scooter or bike 108to power the vehicle.

FIG. 8 shows a high level method 800 of operating the locking mechanismcontroller 306 of FIGS. 3-7, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment.

At 802, the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking system receives information regarding authentication of anexternal device via the communications module.

At 804, the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking system determines whether a compartment configured to hold aportable electrical energy storage device is in a desired state to havethe compartment unlocked.

At 806, if it is determined the compartment is in the desired state tohave the compartment unlocked, unlock a portable electrical energystorage device compartment locking mechanism of the compartment.

FIG. 9 shows a low level method 900 of operating the locking mechanismcontroller of FIGS. 3-7, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including communicating information to unlock the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism, usefulin the method of FIG. 8.

At 902, the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking system receives the information regarding authentication of theexternal device via a wireless signal and communicates the informationto the at least one controller to enable the at least one controller tounlock the portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism.

FIG. 10 shows a high level method 1000 of operating the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment system of FIGS. 3-7,according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

At 1002, the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking system receives information regarding authentication of anexternal device.

At 1004 the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking system makes a determination regarding unlocking a portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism to allowthe compartment to be opened. This determination is based on theinformation regarding authentication and based on a detection of anabsence of a portable electrical energy storage device in a compartmentconfigured to hold the portable electrical energy storage device.

The various methods described herein may include additional acts, omitsome acts, and/or may perform the acts in a different order than set outin the various flow diagrams.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, schematics,and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, and examplescontain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that each function and/or operation withinsuch block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, thepresent subject matter may be implemented via one or moremicrocontrollers. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can beequivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits (e.g.,Application Specific Integrated Circuits or ASICs), as one or morecomputer programs executed by one or more computers (e.g., as one ormore programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or moreprograms executed by on one or more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers)as one or more programs executed by one or more processors (e.g.,microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof,and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for thesoftware and/or firmware would be well within the skill of one ofordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this disclosure.

When logic is implemented as software and stored in memory, logic orinformation can be stored on any non-transitory computer-readable mediumfor use by or in connection with any processor-related system or method.In the context of this disclosure, a memory is a nontransitory computer-or processor-readable storage medium that is an electronic, magnetic,optical, or other physical device or means that non-transitorilycontains or stores a computer and/or processor program. Logic and/or theinformation can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that can fetch the instructions from the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructionsassociated with logic and/or information.

In the context of this specification, a “computer-readable medium” canbe any physical element that can store the program associated with logicand/or information for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system, apparatus, and/or device. The computer-readable mediumcan be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatusor device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette (magnetic, compact flash card, secure digital, or thelike), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory),a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), and digital tape.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. To the extent that they are not inconsistent withthe specific teachings and definitions herein, all of the U.S. patents,U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreignpatents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publicationsreferred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application DataSheet, including but not limited to: U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/511,900 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORCOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH ASBATTERIES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011 (Attorney Docket No. 170178.401P1),U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/647,936 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTINGPOWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed May 16, 2012(Attorney Docket No. 170178.401P2), U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/534,753 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORREDISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BETWEENCOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011(Atty. Docket No. 170178.402P1), U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/534,761 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORAUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES SUCH ASBATTERIES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011 (Attorney Docket No. 170178.403P1),U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/534,772 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROLOF POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BASED ON USER PROFILES” andfiled Sep. 14, 2011 (Attorney Docket No. 170178.404P1), U.S. provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 61/511,887 entitled “THERMAL MANAGEMENT OFCOMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE VEHICLES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011(Atty. Docket No. 170178.406P1), U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/647,941 entitled “THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF COMPONENTS INELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE VEHICLES” and filed May 16, 2012 (Atty. Docket No.170178.406P2), U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,880entitled “DYNAMICALLY LIMITING VEHICLE OPERATION FOR BEST EFFORTECONOMY” and filed Jul. 26, 2011 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.407P1), U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/557,170 entitled “APPARATUS,METHOD, AND ARTICLE FOR PHYSICAL SECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES INVEHICLES” and filed Nov. 8, 2011 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.408P1), U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/581,566 entitled APPARATUS,METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COMPARTMENT' and filedDec. 29, 2011 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.412P1), U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/601,404 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLEFOR PROVIDING VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DATA” and filed Feb. 21, 2012 (Atty.Docket No. 170178.417P1), U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/601,949 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDINGLOCATIONS OF POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTIONMACHINES” and filed Feb. 22, 2012 (Atty. Docket No. 170178.418P1), andU.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/601,953 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDINGAVAILABILITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES AT A POWER STORAGE DEVICECOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINE” and filed Feb. 22, 2012(Atty. Docket No. 170178.419P1), U.S. application Ser. No. ______ filedon Jul. 26, 2012, naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Matthew Whiting Taylor andHuang-Cheng Hung as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD ANDARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES,SUCH AS BATTERIES” (Atty. Docket No. 170178.401), U.S. application Ser.No. ______ filed on Jul. 26, 2012, naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke andMatthew Whiting Taylor as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD ANDARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWER STORAGEDEVICES SUCH AS BATTERIES” (Atty. Docket No. 170178.403) U.S.application Ser. No. ______ filed on Jul. 26, 2012 naming Hok-Sum HoraceLuke and Matthew Whiting Taylor as inventors and entitled “DYNAMICALLYLIMITING VEHICLE OPERATION FOR BEST EFFORT ECONOMY” (Atty. Docket No.170178.407), U.S. application Ser. No. ______ filed on Jul. 26, 2012,naming Matthew Whiting Taylor, Yi-Tsung Wu, Hok-Sum Horace Luke andHuang-Cheng Hung as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD, ANDARTICLE FOR PHYSICAL SECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES IN VEHICLES”(Atty. Docket No. 170178.408), U.S. application Ser. No. ______ filed onJul. 26, 2012, naming Ching Chen, Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Matthew WhitingTaylor, Yi-Tsung Wu as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD ANDARTICLE FOR PROVIDING VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DATA” (Atty. Docket No.170178.417), U.S. application Ser. No. ______ filed on Jul. 26, 2012,naming Yi-Tsung Wu, Matthew Whiting Taylor, Hok-Sum Horace Luke andJung-Hsiu Chen as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLEFOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF POWER STORAGEDEVICES AT A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTIONMACHINE” (Atty. Docket No. 170178.419), and U.S. application Ser. No.______ filed on Jul. 26, 2012, naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Yi-Tsung Wu,Jung-Hsiu Chen, Yulin Wu, Chien Ming Huang, TsungTing Chan, Shen-ChiChen and Feng Kai Yang as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD ANDARTICLE FOR RESERVING POWER STORAGE DEVICES AT RESERVING POWER STORAGEDEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES” (Atty. Docket No.170178.423) are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary, to employsystems, circuits and concepts of the various patents, applications andpublications to provide yet further embodiments.

While generally discussed in the environment and context of collection,charging and distribution of portable electrical energy storage devicesfor use with personal transportation vehicles such as all-electricscooters and/or motorbikes, the teachings herein can be applied in awide variety of other environments, including other vehicular as well asnon-vehicular environments.

The above description of illustrated embodiments, including what isdescribed in the Abstract of the Disclosure, is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed.Although specific embodiments and examples are described herein forillustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as willbe recognized by those skilled in the relevant art.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

1. A portable electrical energy storage device compartment system,comprising: at least one controller; and at least one communicationsmodule coupled to the at least one controller, wherein the at least onecontroller is configured to: receive information regardingauthentication of an external device via the at least one communicationsmodule; and in response to receiving the information regardingauthentication: determine whether a compartment configured to hold aportable electrical energy storage device is in a desired state to havethe compartment unlocked; and if it is determined the compartment is inthe desired state to have the compartment unlocked, unlock a portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism of thecompartment.
 2. The portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system of claim 1 wherein the desired state to have thecompartment unlocked is a state in which the portable electrical energystorage device is present in the compartment and a charge level of theportable electrical energy storage device is below a particularthreshold.
 3. The portable electrical energy storage device compartmentsystem of claim 2 wherein the external device is a portable electricalenergy storage device collection and charging machine.
 4. The portableelectrical energy storage device compartment system of claim 1 whereinthe desired state to have the compartment unlocked is a state in whichthe portable electrical energy storage device is not present in thecompartment.
 5. The portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system of claim 1, wherein the at least one communicationsmodule is configured to receive the information regarding authenticationof the external device via a wireless signal and communicate theinformation to the at least one controller to enable the at least onecontroller to unlock the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism.
 6. The portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment system of claim 1, further comprising: the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism coupledto the at least one controller; and a detection device coupled to the atleast one controller and the compartment, the detection deviceconfigured to be activated by the portable electrical energy storagedevice being present in the compartment, wherein the at least onecontroller is configured to send a control signal in a manner to unlockthe portable electrical energy storage device compartment lockingmechanism in order to allow the compartment to be opened, if theexternal device is authenticated based on the information regardingauthentication.
 7. The portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller isfurther configured to make a determination regarding unlocking theportable electrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanismbased on the received information regarding authentication.
 8. Theportable electrical energy storage device compartment system of claim 7wherein the least one controller is further configured to: generate achallenge key to send to the external device; send the challenge key tothe external device; receive a response from the external device to thesending of the challenge key, the response including a response code aspart of the information regarding authentication; generate an outputfrom a secret algorithm using a secret key and the response code asinput, the secret algorithm and the secret key configured to be knownonly to the portable electrical energy storage device compartment systemand one or more authorized external devices; and comparing the outputfrom the secret algorithm to the response code, and wherein the at leastone controller is configured to make the determination regardingunlocking the portable electrical energy storage device compartmentlocking mechanism based at least on the comparison.
 9. The portableelectrical energy storage device compartment system of claim 1 whereinthe configured portable electrical energy storage device compartmentsystem is coupled to a vehicle.
 10. The portable electrical energystorage device compartment system of claim 1 wherein the external deviceis a key fob.
 11. The portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system of claim 1 wherein the external device is a wirelessportable electronic device.
 12. The portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment system of claim 1 wherein the external device is adevice located at a vehicle service center.
 13. The portable electricalenergy storage device compartment system of claim 1 wherein the at leastone controller is configured to receive the information regardingauthentication via a wireless signal transmitted from the externaldevice, and wherein the wireless signal transmitted from the externaldevice is not detectable outside a specified maximum range from the atleast one communications module.
 14. The portable electrical energystorage device compartment system of claim 13 wherein the wirelesssignal includes a rolling code for the authentication of the externaldevice by the at least one controller.
 15. The portable electricalenergy storage device compartment system of claim 1 further comprising apower source coupled to the at least one controller and the portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism toprovide power to the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment locking mechanism.
 16. A method of operating a portableelectrical energy storage device compartment system, the methodcomprising: receiving, by the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system, information regarding authentication of an externaldevice; and making a determination, by the portable electrical energystorage device compartment system, regarding unlocking a portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanism, based onthe information regarding authentication and based on a detection of anabsence of a portable electrical energy storage device in a compartmentconfigured to hold the portable electrical energy storage device. 17.The method of claim 16 further comprising: detecting the absence of theportable electrical energy storage device in the compartment bydetermining that the portable electrical energy storage device is notpresent in the compartment based on an absence of a signal from adetection device coupled to the compartment configured to be activatedby the presence of the portable electrical energy storage device in thecompartment.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the receiving theinformation regarding authentication includes receiving the informationregarding authentication via a wireless signal transmitted from aportable wireless electronic device, and wherein the wireless signalreceived from the portable wireless electronic device is not detectableoutside a specified maximum range from a communications module of theportable electrical energy storage device compartment system.
 19. Themethod of claim 16 wherein the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system is coupled to a vehicle to which the portableelectrical energy storage device is configured to provide power when theportable electrical energy storage device is present in the compartment.20. The method of claim 16 wherein the making the determination includescomparing a code from the received information regarding authenticationto one or more codes associated with the portable electrical energystorage device compartment system and further comprising: unlocking theportable electrical energy storage device compartment locking mechanismto allow the compartment to be opened if the code from the receivedinformation regarding authentication matches one of the one or morecodes associated with the portable electrical energy storage devicecompartment system and there is an absence of the portable electricalenergy storage device in the compartment detected.
 21. The method ofclaim 20 further comprising: automatically lifting a lid of thecompartment if the code from the received information regardingauthentication matches the one of the one or more codes associated withthe portable electrical energy storage device compartment system andthere is an absence of the portable electrical energy storage device inthe compartment detected.
 22. A portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment, comprising: a housing configured to hold a portableelectrical energy storage device; a power source; and a portableelectrical energy storage device compartment locking system coupled tothe power source and the housing configured to allow the compartment tobe opened based on information regarding authentication of an externaldevice received wirelessly from the external device and based on adetection of at least one of: an absence of a portable electrical energystorage device in the housing and a charge level of the portableelectrical energy storage device in the housing.
 23. The portableelectrical energy storage device compartment of claim 22 wherein theportable electrical energy storage device compartment locking systemcomprises: at least one controller; and at least one communicationsmodule coupled to the at least one controller, wherein the at least onecontroller is configured to: receive the information regardingauthentication of an external device via the at least one communicationsmodule; receive information regarding the detection of an absence of aportable electrical energy storage device in the housing; and make adetermination regarding unlocking the portable electrical energy storagedevice compartment locking system to allow the compartment to be openedbased on the received information regarding authentication of anexternal device via the at least one communications module and based onthe received information regarding the detection of an absence of aportable electrical energy storage device in the housing.
 24. Theportable electrical energy storage device compartment of claim 23wherein the housing configured to hold the portable electrical energystorage device is coupled to a vehicle to which the portable electricalenergy storage device is configured to provide power when the portableelectrical energy storage device is present in the housing.